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9.14.2011

YMX Apparel: It's a Giveaway!

Yoga thuggin' in my Koi print apparel by YMX

A few weeks ago, I received a nice email from a representative of YMX by Yellowman asking if I'd like to review an outfit from their collection of athletic apparel. While I've never published a product review here before, I have been sent many offers, mostly for products I don't use. So when YMX offered to send me the Koi Hoodie and Koi Performance Leggings, CLOTHING that I can USE, in exchange for a review, I said, "of course!" Followed immediately by: "I'm a size small!"

Rocking the EPB in the Koi Performance Leggings

The first thing that struck me about the items when they arrived, aside from the beautiful, brightly colored Koi design, was the fabric itself. YMX performance apparel is made from a material exclusively designed for YMX by the name of MadKool. And they are not kidding: MadKool is cool. It's paper thin but super strong with a satiny tactile feel. Moreover, it seems to be the perfect texture for Ashtanga yoga. The material is somehow both rubbery in its grip and smooth in its slide. Arm balancing and binding were a breeze in the Koi Performance Leggings. Even the sweaty jumps into Bhujapidasana and Kurmasana were landed effortlessly because of MadKool's unique feel. Not only that, but throughout my practice in these pants, I noticed that my legs were consistently the coolest part of my body. Every little breeze washed a wave of soothing cool over my lower half. I'm not sure how it works, but these leggings are cooler than shorts without the struggle of binding or gripping with sweaty, slippery limbs.

The only drawback of MadKool is also one of its strengths: the material is very thin. To clarify for you just how thin, let me say that I could see the texture of my two-day stubble through the fabric. I am aware that the question on the mind of every inquiring yogini in the market for a pair of leggings is this: "Will they obscure my lady bits?" The answer is no. They are sheer. Down Dog is a peep show. And with the white spandex woven into the fabric for stretch, they appear to be even more see-through than they actually are. So... will I wear these for home practice? YES! Will I wear them at the shala or in the studio? Sadly, no. Though it's tempting because the fit is so nice and the design is really striking. Maybe for a candlelit class? With one of those trendy little athletic miniskirts over top? Or teaching, with a tunic? Maybe.

The Koi Hoodie, on the other hand, is very nice and I expect to wear it often. The large print on the back is beautiful. The material is still lightweight, but more substantial than the leggings and it provides more warmth than you might expect based on its thickness. It is also worth noting that the Koi Hoodie provides UPF 50+ against harmful UV rays, so I look forward to donning this zip-front hoodie for brisk bike rides to and from the studio without having to worry about slopping on the oily SPF.

In the interest of total honesty, I'll remark on the price of these items. The Koi Performance Leggings are currently listed at $89 per pair and the Koi Hoodie sells for a whopping $119. As my long-time readers will know, I don't spend a lot on yoga apparel, as much out of principle as for necessity. I don't believe that yoga should cost a lot, and these items are well beyond what I consider to be reasonably priced. That being said, these are really lovely and functional pieces of clothing. If money were no object, I would purchase more of their beautifully printed tops. But fortunately for you, dear readers, YMX has generously offered to give away a pair of the Koi Performance Leggings with matching Koi Hoodie to one of you.

So here's the deal: I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 100. Use your yogi mind-skills to intuit that number, then leave it in the comments. One chance per person. If no one has guessed the exact number by noon on Friday, I'll select the closest guess and announce the winner in a post. Good luck!

Disclaimer

I am a yoga teacher and therapist in training, I am not a medical professional. It is your responsibility to seek the professional opinion of a qualified physician before beginning a yoga practice or attempting to significantly alter your diet or lifestyle.